Jonathan Tamari

Jonathan Tamari is the Inquirer’s Washington correspondent. He writes about the lawmakers, politics and policy that affect Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Tamari previously covered the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL. Before that he worked in Trenton, reporting on the characters and color of New Jersey state government. He lives in Washington.

WASHINGTON -- Philadelphia U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah wants to rename the city's 30th Street Station in honor of the late Bill Gray, his predecessor in Pennsylvania's second Congressional district.

Fattah, a Democrat, has introduce a bill to rename the station “William H. Gray III 30th Street Station.” Every member of the Pennsylvania House delegation has signed on as a co-sponsor.

"Renaming this historic station in Bill Gray’s honor would be a fitting tribute for a man and leader who did so much for the Philadelphia community—not only as a public servant, but as a businessman, friend, father, and minister,” Fattah said in a news release. “His dedication to his constituency knew no bounds, but he was particularly passionate about investing resources in America’s infrastructure, and gave undue time and commitment to making 30th Street Station one of the finest train facilities in this country.”

Gray, a Philadelphian who served from 1978 to 1991 and died in July, was the first African-American to become majority whip, the third ranking position in the House, and the first to chair the budget committee.